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I have a few opinions regarding the comments made by the sports network broadcaster a well-known announcer after the Serbian champion's victory over the American player during the US Open quarter-finals. Consider – Fritz is American, the commentator is from the US – and athletic competitions frequently encourage nationalism. Some disappointment was understandable. Rather, Fowler invoked the ongoing drought of American men at grand slam tournaments: none of them has won a title since Andy Roddick in 2003, and he had been the last one standing in the tournament.

We all love a storyline, me too. But really. Suppose the American defeated the legend for the first time, force of nature Carlos Alcaraz was waiting in the following match, who he has never defeated in an official match. And if he’d someway gotten past that, it would have been title holder Jannik Sinner, against whom Fritz had lost 10 of the last 11 sets. Alcaraz and Sinner had also split the last seven grand slams (plus Alcaraz proceeded to thrash a fatigued Serbian in the subsequent match). He stated in post-match interviews after the loss that he in fact preferred his draw, because it offered the chance to defeat the top three players in the sport back-to-back. He is well justified to aspire to the achievement; an athlete is meant to have faith in themselves. But entering that Serbian quarter-final who else in their right mind had the drought of American champions on the brain?

The American star's second serve the only thing standing in her way and consistent victories

The American, twenty-eight, is ranked number four in the world starting this week’s ATP World Tour Finals and has secured his previous six encounters over No 3 the German with increasing ease. It's likely he could claim that position for himself in the future. But it’s clear that right now, that’s as far as he can climb: Sinner and Alcaraz lie a vast gap of ranking points away. His elite serve and powerful power on each forehand and reverse side are sufficiently adequate to defeat the majority of opponents on the professional circuit. Against the handful of generational talents, however, Fritz is frequently overmatched. The past few seasons has witnessed the interesting emergence of tall, gangly players who can nevertheless cover the court with the alarming speed and fluidity of much shorter players. Fritz is six-foot-five and appears that way. His footwork is stiff, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his legs. So he’ll rarely steal a point that the opponent was controlling, and hitting a soft shot against him is typically a safe bet. That acts as a pretty harsh limitation on his potential.

The American has made a number of significant, improbable improvements over the years. Early on of the ten-year period, he was hovering around the lower end of the top 30. Two years after, he was sniffing the elite ten. Last year, he unexpectedly exploded up to fourth place – and held the position. But the subsequent step, competing against and beating all-time-greats like Alcaraz, the Italian, and including a aging Serbian, is the toughest of all. What was Fowler have been thinking? That the American, in 2025, was a legitimate contender to beat them all back-to-back? That it was worth commenting on the continuing drought of US male players lifting grand slams when he had departed the New York major in the quarter-finals? The thirst is just too much and the respect for the magnitude of the task too little.

The American star made a personal best advancement to the Wimbledon last four in the summer.

Fritz’s play in that very last eight match ought to have been enough of an sign. Djokovic won in four rounds, a victory that only felt uncertain for moments towards the conclusion, when the American had survived a few championship opportunities and had a chance to maintain serve for 5-5. The pair appeared well-balanced during the rallies, with Fritz earning plenty of opportunities to win the opponent's serve. But the champion rescued break point after service break opportunity, prolonging the run to the point of agony. When Fritz eventually did claim a single of the opportunities at 5-5 in the second set, he immediately produced a horrendous service game to lose his own serve again; the Serbian had drawn him into a battle peripheral to the main contest and forced him to use excessive effort to prevail. Down match points in the final game, Fritz’s first serve floated to the sky. He prolonged the match two times on his second serve, but ultimately committed two errors. It was not a collapse, I didn’t think, only a consequence of having to hit an excessive number of second serves.

The contest was quite compelling proof that the American is insufficiently skilled to defeat any version of the Serbian, that was defeated by the Spaniard in the next round and never particularly appeared like he believed he could win. This is perfectly acceptable – Djokovic is the best player ever, and may not be at the peak of his physical powers anymore, but has acquired sufficient experience and tactical know-how to make up for quite a bit of the drop-off. The issue is those who were expecting the American to win, and pressuring him to do so, when he was had not accomplished anything that suggested he would.

The American is an asset to the tour nonetheless. He’s a patient, thoughtful voice in press conferences, exceeding virtually anyone on the men's tour aside from Daniil Medvedev, willing to not only express his emotions or the strategy he believed determined a match, but explain it. That he should bear the brunt of the blame for America not produce a men's grand slam winner since the last American titlist seems unjust. (Since the fellow American is rubbing shoulders with him in the standings, perhaps they can share that burden.)

Year-End Championships: Player Divisions

American legend Group

• Carlos Alcaraz (Sp)
• Taylor Fritz (US)
• Alex de Minaur (Aus)
• Lorenzo Musetti (It)

Swedish icon Division

• The Italian champion
• Alexander Zverev (Ger)
• The rising American
• The Canadian talent

“I would likely dwell on it forever if I fail to accomplish it,” the American informed a journalist in June of claiming a grand slam. It is hoped he understands that he’s not unsuccessful if he doesn’t fulfill that goal, that overcoming the Spanish and Italian's dominant, formidable reign is actually extremely improbable for all other players. {